Predictive Maintenance with Continuous Temperature Monitoring

Try A Better Kind of Maintenance

Maintenance is crucial for expensive, hard-working equipment. Many industrial plants follow a strategy of performing maintenance at prescribed intervals. The intervals are based on how much time has elapsed or how long the equipment has been in use. This is known as preventive maintenance.

Predictive maintenance – forewarned is forearmed1

Unfortunately, preventive maintenance does not take into account the unique rate at which each piece of machinery is worn down. Depending on how it is used and by environmental conditions, one motor might wear down faster or slower than expected. The load, the motor speed, and even the surrounding temperature can play a part. When conditions change, plant equipment can be subject to unusual stress. For example, consider a situation where workers perform scheduled maintenance and find that everything is in good working order. The next scheduled maintenance will occur in a few months. However, next month there is a sudden rush, and the equipment is overworked. If workers do not perform timely maintenance, the motors could fail before the next maintenance event. This is when preventive maintenance falls short.

Predictive maintenance is the superior alternative to scheduled maintenance. Instead of relying on a fixed schedule, predictive maintenance techniques look at the actual condition of the machinery to determine when maintenance is warranted. This allows maintenance personnel to be forewarned of pending motor failures and take action before weakened components lead to a breakdown. Following this strategy, you can predict and avert a crisis before it happens.

Cut Costs with Predictive Maintenance

In addition to preventing motor failures, predictive maintenance also leads to more efficient maintenance. First, this strategy makes it easier to schedule maintenance when it is necessary, before problems build up. This could save thousands of dollars in costs related to unplanned repair and outages. Predictive maintenance also eliminates unnecessary inspections or maintenance. Fewer inspections means fewer wasted resources. The ability to schedule maintenance for the most convenient time, before emergency maintenance or repair becomes necessary, allows for less planned downtime. It also makes it easier to plan ahead. For example, the plant manager can order spare parts before they are needed. Maintenance teams can perform multiple procedures while the line is down for maintenance, to maximize efficiency.

Continuous Data Brings Real-time Insights

Predictive maintenance delivers the insights you need2

Data is the key to predictive maintenance. A successful predictive maintenance strategy requires reliable data about the condition of equipment at all times during the operation of the equipment. Continuous temperature monitoring from RFMicron fills this need. With so many motor failures caused by overheating or insulation failures, temperature is a crucial metric to determine if a motor needs repair. RFMicron provides you with the accurate and reliable temperature data you need to detect unusual changes in a motor’s heat signature.

RFMicron does more than just deliver the data you need—our monitoring solution delivers the right information at the right time. Continuous monitoring allows for real-time insights into motor conditions. With a steady stream of data, you are armed with the knowledge you need to take action where and when necessary.

Read the next post in our series to learn about predictive maintenance systems that are commonly employed in the industry today, and how they fall short.

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